HARTFORD, Conn. (WFSB) – Calls to Connecticut’s Poison Control Center related to the use of GLP-1s have tripled in just a two year time period.
GLP-1s aren’t new. They’ve been around for more than two decades to treat diabetes, but it wasn’t until the last few years that their popularity soared as a way to lose weight.
Suzanne Doyon is the medical director for the Connecticut Poison Control Center.
“Yes, the accessibility has skyrocketed. People are using it a lot, a lot, a lot, but the pharmacology and the basic understanding of GLPs was there before 2024,” said Doyon.
Doyon says they are now answering a lot more questions about GLPs.
“They usually call the poison center because, again, they can’t keep any food down and it’s a problem for them,” said Doyon.
The I-Team requested the number of GLP-1 related calls from the Connecticut Poison Control Center. In 2023, there were 54 calls related to GLP-1 exposure. In 2024—that number went up 70% to 92 calls. Then in 2025, it nearly doubled to 172 calls, meaning calls more than tripled in just 2 years.
It’s a trend happening all across the country. The National Poison Data System, America’s Poison Centers, reports calls about GLP-1s have increased 1500% since 2019.
Doyon says the calls can be for several reasons.
“We get calls from people to whom this product is prescribed. They either made a medication error, so you have to dial up the dose. They misdial the dose or they themselves took it upon themselves to increase the dose or they misunderstood directions and gave themselves an extra dose. Those are the kinds of calls we get,” said Doyon. “Then there’s a smaller proportion of calls. People on it, they’re using it as prescribed, but they’re running into an adverse effect.”
Doyon says they will refer people to an emergency room if they worry the caller’s symptoms are too severe. Each call is different and will lead to a different outcome.
“I think the takeaway for the user, the person who’s been recently prescribed or has been on it for a year, is really to follow directions,” said Doyon
You can reach your local poison center by calling the poison help line 1-800-222-1222.
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